Florida early voting: West sees ‘nefarious actions’

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) accused Democrats of “nefarious actions” during early voting in Florida on Monday, one day after the state’s Democratic Party sued to extend the early voting period.

“I think you’re starting to see some nefarious actions already coming from the other side, because there’s been an incredible turn out from Republican voters on the early voting down here in Florida,” West said on “Fox and Friends.”

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Florida Democrats filed the lawsuit Sunday after voters faced wait times of up to six hours on Saturday, the last scheduled day of early voting. Some counties extended their early voting hours — leading to an absolute mess in Miami-Dade County, where early voting was started Sunday, then stopped, then started again. The Sunshine State’s GOP legislature cut the length of the early voting period from fourteen days to eight over protests from Democrats.

West said he, along with his wife and daughter, voted early, spending about an hour in line to cast a ballot. He said between early voting, absentee ballots and election day, “you’re starting to see some shenanigans beginning to take place.”

The firebrand Republican is battling Democrat Patrick Murphy for reelection. Two polls released in October showed him leading Murphy.

Shouldn't there at least be some tenuous relationship between West's statements and reality? The Republicans cut the early voting days, Gov. Scott refuses to accomodate record early turnout, then the democrats have to bring them to court for any extension in early voting... and the Democrats are accused of being 'nefarious'??? How can the nutjobs believe this crap?

He might be a bit more believable if he cited some specifics and could back up his allegations. I'm not an attorney in FL, but I'm doubtful there are laws on the books against "nefarious" actions and "shenanigans", I'm pretty sure the laws would be a little more specific.

West said he, along with his wife and daughter, voted early, spending about an hour in line to cast a ballot. He said between early voting, absentee ballots and election day, “you’re starting to see some shenanigans beginning to take place

The only 'shenanigans" beginning to take place are the ones put in place by the Republicans who are doing all they can possibly get by with to make sure as few Democrats as possible actually get to vote. Waiting in an 8 hour line to vote is about as UNAMERICAN as you can get yet not a word about how that is the fault of the Republican Governor who refuses to open up additional voting locations or to extend the early voting. Think that's an "accident"? HARDLY this is their best effort to surpress the Democratic vote.

Those of you that have stood in those lines to cast your votes - YOU ARE HEROS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!! AND I AM PROUD TO CALL YOU MY "FELLOW AMERICANS"!!

A 10 page ballot, limiting early voting locations and early voting days an a very populous state. What purpose could it serve but to lower voter turn out? So sad when one party actively tries to limit voting for Americans.

I voted this past Thursday. From the time I got there until I was back in my car driving home it was 3.5 hours. 30 minutes of which was me reading through the ballot.

Of course outside the library where the voting was done was a mob of people telling you not to read the ballot because it was too long and to just vote a certain way and handing out pamphlets on how to vote. Each one contradicting the last. Some from unknown sources.

I've heard West was involved in some nefarious sexual acts with his male military subordinates... I'm not going to cite anything specific or back the claim up with any evidence, but I will just throw it out there and see what happens...

Because FL has a Repug governor and state legislature which are doing all they can to suppress minority voters in South Florida. When told about some voters having to spend 5-6 hours standing in line, Gov. Scott responded "everything is going smoothly." This may come back to bite the Repugs in the butt as most people are showing themselves willing to stand in the long lines. Scott's next move may be to bring out the fire hoses and break up the voting lines--he will say that all of these voters standing in line are creating a public safety hazard.

"Why always Florida ? " Who controls the state ? The Republicons ! This is no accident . The bigger the turn out , the more people allowed to vote , the better it is historically for the Democrats , the Republicons know that . Pure corruption , absolute corruption , there is no excuse for this , none . There is a reason why you never here the Republicons , the right wing propagandists ( Fox and Limbaugh etc. ) , the right wing talkers , or the brainwashed cult members supporting them , say the word democracy . It's as if the word is taboo among them . Big on the words liberty and freedom but democracy ? It's a dirty word to them .

One of the oldest political ploys in the book is to be proactive and falsely accuse the opposition of doing what you are guilty of doing , it provides political cover , that's what the Republicons are doing now , that's what West is doing . In fact it's the Republicons M. O. .

The commercial applies in this case , the Republicons say " we didn't steal that blue berry pie , the Dems did " , but they have blue berry smeared all over their face .

In the end democracy will win out , democracy will prevail in this election ... in spite of these Republicons .

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(6) Romney/Ryan will bring about legal IMMIGRATION REFORM via Congress in such a manner as to: (a) give more American businesses the opportunity to hire legal immigrants; (b) give more legal immigrants the opportunity to live/work in America; (c) give many illegal immigrants with historical long-term roots in America the opportunity to take responsibility for their mistakes and forge a path to a legal immigration status; and (d) secure America’s borders and send an unequivocal message to potential illegal immigrants that America is NOT a place where they (and people smugglers who exploit them) will be able to thrive economically. Latinos and Hispanics must understand that Obama’s direct attempts to sidestep and diminish Congress’ exclusive constitutional right to pass immigration legislation undermine America’s democracy and democratic institutions. (7) I agree with the premise of the article “Mitt Romney is Right” by Dick Morris (see text at http://www.foxnews.com/politic... that while we Americans definitely deserve government benefits when we are having various temporary or even permanent problems, we do NOT deserve to grow so dependent upon these benefits that we end up failing to exercise our independence and use our talents that we indeed can and need to exercise and use. (8) A Republican Mormon as President and a Republican Catholic as Vice-President will be an interesting and viable political and religious combination. While I believe in a strong separation of government and religion so that religious freedoms for all can indeed remain “free” and unsuppressed, as a voter I look favorably upon electing government officials who believe in God and who use this belief to bolster their personal and professional ethics. At the same time, I will not vote for or against someone just because he/she is a religious person since I know many people who are not religious (including those who are agnostic or atheist) and with whom I share many core beliefs. On a personal note, while I am a Christian (without a strong preference for any particular denomination), my spouse is an atheist. (9) There are several CHARACTERISTICS both Romney and Ryan have that are critical to the president and vice-president positions (I do not recall any past president/vice president combination having these characteristics to the degree that Romney and Ryan reflect them). 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This election is NOT about who wins but rather about who is the best person and in the best position in terms of qualifications and character to lead our country in the direction that our country needs to go to solve our problems and make life better for all Americans. I am INSPIRED by the Romney/Ryan ticket since I can envision how they would lead our country in a positive and productive direction - I hope that you too are inspired by them!

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